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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Know your rotation speed
A typical trainer rotates in the mid-50s of knots - a 172 at around 55 KIAS, climbing out at a Vy in the low 70s, though check your own POH rather than memorising Cessna's numbers - and the transferable rule is that Vr sits just above the stall speed in takeoff configuration. Rotate early because "it felt ready" and the aircraft lifts off inside ground effect, where induced drag is reduced, then climbs out of it into more drag. On a marginal-performance day the result is an aircraft that lifts off and then refuses to climb, sagging back towards the runway.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 15 stages, 13 scored
Events
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Events
Events
The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,404 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 355 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight in the XCub began with a departure roll on runway 10 at LPFR Faro Airport. The takeoff distance was 272 meters, which accounted for 11% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 58 knots. The local weather at the time of departure was 18°C with 16 knot winds coming from 160°, resulting in a crosswind of 13 knots and a headwind of 8 knots.
After takeoff, the pilot entered a left-hand pattern from runway 10 at LPFR Faro Airport, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 79 seconds. This was followed by a left-hand pattern crosswind, with a distance of less than 1 nm covered in 21 seconds. The flight then proceeded to the pattern downwind turn, covering a distance of 2 nm with an angle to the runway of 45 degrees (50.6°).
The pattern downwind leg covered a distance of 3 nm in 84 seconds, leading to the pattern base leg turn with a distance of 1 nm and an angle to the runway of 45 degrees (46.7°). The pattern base leg was less than 1 nm and took 19 seconds to complete. The final turn to align with the runway also covered less than 1 nm in 20 seconds.
The landing on runway 10 at LPFR Faro Airport was executed smoothly, with a runway length of 2,404 meters. The height at the threshold was 60 feet above ground level, and the speed at the threshold was 67 knots. The touchdown point was 354 meters from the threshold, with a touchdown speed of 57 knots and a vertical speed indicator reading of -286 ft/m. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were 18°C with 8 knot winds coming from 170°, resulting in a crosswind of 8 knots and a headwind of 3 knots.
The total landing distance covered was 900 meters, accounting for 37% of the runway length. The total flight distance from departure to landing was 6 nautical miles, taking 8 minutes to complete. The XCub used 3 kg of fuel during the flight.
Overall, the aircraft landing score of 88.1% indicates that there were some areas for improvement during each phase of the landing.
During the Approach Phase, the descent path above the glideslope limit and the speed being well above target are both concerning factors. For a successful landing, it is crucial to maintain a stable descent path and adhere to the designated speed limits. This can greatly impact the overall approach and set the tone for the rest of the landing.
Moving on to the Landing Phase, while the threshold height being slightly above the target is a minor issue, the great landing flare is commendable. However, the poor bank angle stability during landing is a red flag that could lead to safety concerns. It is important for the aircraft to maintain a steady and controlled posture during the landing phase to ensure a smooth and safe touchdown.
In the Touchdown Phase, the firm touchdown rate and speed above the target suggest a lack of finesse in the execution of the landing. Additionally, the touchdown distance inside the touchdown zone and the runway touchdown position being off-center by 8.0 meters from the centerline indicate a need for better alignment and precision during touchdown.
Finally, during the Rollout Phase, the runway alignment being 14.2 meters off-centerline is a significant deviation that needs to be addressed. Proper alignment is crucial for the safe taxiing and maneuvering of the aircraft on the runway post-landing.
While the landing score of 88.1% is respectable, there are clear areas for improvement in each phase of the landing process. With more focus on maintaining stable descent paths, adhering to speed limits, improving bank angle stability, finesse in touchdown, and alignment precision, the overall landing performance can be greatly enhanced. Encouraging the flight crew to pay closer attention to these specific areas can lead to even more successful and safe landings in the future.
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